Dressing for the heat 🔥
(with clothes you already have)
This weekend marks the first days of summer in the Northern Hemisphere — and unsurprisingly, it's going to be a hot one. According to forecasts, we're headed into hotter-than-normal temperatures throughout North America this summer, with similar predictions across Europe.
It may even rival last year's summer, which was the hottest on record since global records began 145 years ago. (Before 2024, the previous record was 2023.)
Fashion is in an interesting position because while clothing is something we turn to help us manage extreme temperatures, the industry also contributes to a warming climate — primarily through its use of fossil fuels throughout the supply chain but also through resource depletion, like deforestation.
In fact, if Shein was a country it would be the world's 100th largest emitter, and that's just one fashion brand. (Though an admittedly highly polluting one.)
So after seeing one-too-many “it's so hot — buy these new fast fashion clothes!” articles, I decided it was time to create my own (more sustainable) summer dressing guide.
Below I'm breaking down how to stay cool with your clothing choices (according to science) while still looking great (using clothes you probably already have your closet).
Let's get into it!
How to Stay Cool with Your Clothes (according to science)
Put simply, sweating is our body's natural cooling function — so we're going for airy, lightweight, breathable clothing that lets our body do what it can do. That means three main things…
Keep it loose and open
Wearing looser-fitting clothes allows air to circulate and sweat to evaporate. Again, sweating is like our body's AC unit — our clothing should support that function, not prevent it.
But you may want to avoid voluminous sleeves or pants with a closure at the hemline (like a puff sleeve), which can sometimes trap in your body's own heat.
Also: looser, more open weaves — which you can detect by holding up fabric to light and seeing if the light passes through — also tends to enable more airflow. A lot of linen and summery cotton garments have looser weaves.
Stick to light colors (maybe)
Darker colors are able to absorb a wider spectrum of light, which means they get warmer more quickly from the sun. Lighter colors on the other hand reflect the sun's rays and reduce the amount of heat being absorbed from the sun.
So that logic would suggest that light colors are going to keep us cooler!
But perhaps we shouldn't jump to conclusions just yet — there was a study that found that loose-fitting black-colored fabrics can also absorb heat coming from your body, which also can cool your body down, as the BBC reported.
When in doubt, prioritize looser fits and lighterweight fabrics over a particular color when the temps are rising.
Keep it natural
Polyester is derived from petroleum, which means in addition to being a polluting fabric, it’s oleophilic (loves oil) and hydrophobic (hates water). Synthetic materials might perform well on a raincoat where you want to repel water, but won't help the moisture naturally evaporate off of your skin once it's already there.
Some polyester garments have “moisture-wicking” properties, but we see this mostly in activewear, not summer dresses. Plus, since polyester is oil-loving, it likes to absorb our body's oils and can retain the build-up of odorants longer making this fiber more likely to smell even after several wash cycles.
No thank you!
On the other hand, natural materials like cotton are generally hydrophilic (love water) so they can absorb your body's moisture. That moisture then can evaporate more easily — rather than get sticky on your skin. Particularly if you live in an area with dry heat, natural fibers are your best friend.
It gets a bit more complicated in humid heat, because sweat has a harder time evaporating in moist air. Basically, sweat isn't as effective at cooling your body down if that moisture isn't evaporating and carrying away heat.
So that cotton tee absorbing all of your moisture tends to just kind of sit on your clothes. Practically speaking, that means if you're spending a lot of time in high humidity heat, natural fibers can still be helpful, you just may have to plan on a change of clothes that day.
(Unfortunately, over two thirds of textiles produced today are made with synthetics, so that final point could be the toughest to manage with the pieces already in your wardrobe.)
How to Create Outfits That Still Look Cool (using clothes you already have)
I've heard from many stylists and style lovers that they hate dressing for summer.
Whether it's my stubborn nostalgia for summer breaks or the relief of getting a respite from long Chicago winters, I haven't ever resonated with that sentiment — I look forward to dressing for summer.
No matter if you love or hate summer dressing — or you're somewhere in between — here are some ways to embrace it using what you already have in your wardrobe.
Of course I don't know your closet or your style, so take whichever tips work for you and leave what doesn't!
Note: Beneath the captions of the photos, there are a links — affiliate and non-affiliate — to pieces I've genuinely liked in here. This is not a shopping guide — I'm just including in case you happen to be looking for something similar in the future. But please feel free to totally disregard! The focus is really on the styling tips.
Add Texture & Shape with Accessories
The most challenging — and also the most freeing — part of warm-weather dressing is that you can't really layer in the traditional sense. Jackets, sweaters, and even an open button-down might just feel like too much.
But there are still a lot of ways to add visual interest to your outfits:
Textured handbags: raffia basket bags, palm leaf totes, woven leather satchels, straw shoulder bags
Add jewelry: Bold earrings, layered necklaces, stacked rings, or a stand-out bracelet
Warm-weather hats: Wide-brimmed hats, bucket hats, or even baseball caps
Contrasting or complementing footwear: a colorful sandal that adds a pop of color, an espadrille that brings in texture, a metallic open toed-heel that adds shine, an elegant sling-back that elevates a simple look, or a two-toned Mary Jane or loafer that ties in a color scheme
Select sunglasses wisely: Choose a pair that either complements or contrasts with your outfit in terms of color, vibe or shape. For example: a bold pair can be a focal point to a simple outfit; a high-quality frame can turn a casual look more luxe; a brown or orangey-tinted lens can be harmonious with an outfit that has warm undertones.
Belts!
Left: Love a straw hat for visual interest and staying protected; on the bottom image I'm wearing a chain necklace from ABLE (I visited their jewelry workshop in Nashville a few years ago) and gold Monica Vinader earrings | Right: A vintage basket bag I turn to when an outfit feels meh
Embrace Being Bolder in Small Doses
This one depends on your own personal style and wardrobe, but I find that with less fabric and more skin in summer outfits, I can embrace being bolder and more colorful in my outfit combinations.
While I might not wear red full-length pants with a bright pink floral top, the red shorts here that are 1/4 of the length of trousers feels more approachable.
You don't have to achieve boldness by wearing more color, though. If you love neutrals, you might try an interesting sculptural mini skirt or a printed sleeveless blouse.
The idea is just to take advantage of shorter clothes as a way to dip your toes into something a touch more daring than your usual style. A lot of people interpret summer dressing as having fewer options, but this is a way to flip that idea on its head.
Repurpose Beach Cover-Ups
This one is quite specific, but many of us have a lightweight beach / swim cover-up that's underutilized. I think this is a shame because these pieces just scream summer — and again, they're usually very flowy and quite lightweight!
Depending on the length, your cover-up can:
Double up as an actual dress when paired with a slip or shorts underneath (My version is casual here but you can dress it up with a strappy elegant sandal too)
Be tucked into a high-waisted short (denim or dressier shorts too)
Worn with a high-waisted wide-leg linen trouser (or really any kind of high-waisted, looser fit pant)
Go Monochrome or Tonal
This is another outfit approach that doesn't require clothing layers to look really intentional. And I can almost guarantee you will be able to make this one work with the garments already in your closet!
Monochrome — especially all-black or all-white — can easily feel dull though. The key is to add shape or texture to keep your outfit from falling flat. I also wouldn't skip jewelry here, even if it's just something simple.
A tonal outfit (like the image on the right below) is when you wear different pieces in various shades — or tones — of the same color family. This is one of my favorite approaches to finding new outfit combos in my closet. It looks put-together without being matchy-matchy.
What are your favorite ways to keep warm-weather outfits interesting?
I feel I could do an entire Slow Fashion Saturday on monochrome and tonal dressing! But let me know which one of these approaches you enjoyed the most or might like more tangible tips and examples on.
Also, if you have another way you like to keep summer outfits a bit more interesting please share in the comments.
Thanks for reading Slow Fashion Saturday 💌
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Until next week, stay cool everyone. :)
💚 Elizabeth
Kaftan type dresses/cover-ups are my choice too for keeping cool and comfortable!